Vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a power unit supported by the vehicle body frame, a steering system supported by the vehicle body frame, a pair of driving wheels spaced apart from each other in a vehicle width direction, a transmission unit that transmits a driving force generated by the power unit to the pair of driving wheels and causes the pair of driving wheels to always rotate at the same rotation speed, and a vehicle body vibration control damper extending between a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from each other, each of the first portion and the second portion being located on the vehicle body frame or a member fixed to the vehicle body frame, and generating a damping force relative to the vibration that changes a distance between the first portion and the second portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body frame; 
 a power unit supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a steering system supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a pair of driving wheels spaced apart from each other in a vehicle width direction; 
 a transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force generated by the power unit to the pair of driving wheels and to cause the pair of driving wheels to always rotate at a same rotation speed; and 
 a vehicle body vibration control damper that is arranged to extend between a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from each other, each of the first portion and the second portion being located on the vehicle body frame or a member fixed to the vehicle body frame, and configured to generate a damping force relative to vibration that changes a distance between the first portion and the second portion; wherein 
 the vehicle body vibration control damper includes oil, pressurized gas, and a spring sealed therein; 
 the first portion and the second portion are spaced apart from each other in a vehicle front-back direction; 
 the vehicle body frame includes a metal pipe; 
 the vehicle body frame includes a cabin frame that constitutes a portion of a cabin configured to be occupied by an occupant of the vehicle; and 
 at least a portion of the cabin frame includes the metal pipe. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the vehicle body frame includes a pair of left and right first and second support frames that extend in the vehicle front-back direction and support the power unit; and 
 the first and second support frames each include a metal pipe. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cabin frame includes a roof frame that constitutes an upper portion of the cabin and is mounted in a removable manner; and 
 the first portion and the second portion are portions of the vehicle body frame excluding the roof frame. 
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are also spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. 
     
     
       5. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body frame; 
 a power unit supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a steering system supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a pair of driving wheels spaced apart from each other in a vehicle width direction; 
 a transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force generated by the power unit to the pair of driving wheels and to cause the pair of driving wheels to always rotate at a same rotation speed; and 
 a vehicle body vibration control damper that is arranged to extend between a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from each other, each of the first portion and the second portion being located on the vehicle body frame or a member fixed to the vehicle body frame, and configured to generate a damping force relative to vibration that changes a distance between the first portion and the second portion; wherein 
 the vehicle body frame includes:
 a pair of columns spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, each of the pair of columns extending in a vehicle front-back direction and including a bent portion and a portion extending downward; 
 a front frame extending in the vehicle width direction and connected to the pair of columns behind the bent portions; 
 a pair of upper brackets spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, mounted to the front frame, and supporting suspensions supporting a pair of front driving wheels; and 
 a pair of lower brackets spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, mounted to the pair of columns below the bent portions, and supporting arms supporting the pair of front driving wheels; and 
 
 the bent portions are the first portion and the second portion spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction; and 
 the vehicle body vibration control damper is arranged to extend between the bent portions of the pair of columns. 
 
     
     
       6. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body frame; 
 a power unit supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a steering system supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a pair of driving wheels spaced apart from each other in a vehicle width direction; 
 a transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force generated by the power unit to the pair of driving wheels and to cause the pair of driving wheels to always rotate at a same rotation speed; and 
 a vehicle body vibration control damper that is arranged to extend between a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from each other, each of the first portion and the second portion being located on the vehicle body frame or a member fixed to the vehicle body frame, and configured to generate a damping force relative to vibration that changes a distance between the first portion and the second portion; wherein 
 the vehicle body frame includes:
 a pair of columns spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, each of the pair of columns extending in a vehicle front-back direction and including a bent portion and a portion extending downward; 
 a front frame extending in the vehicle width direction and connected to the pair of columns behind the bent portions; 
 a pair of upper brackets spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, mounted to the front frame, and supporting suspensions supporting a pair of front driving wheels; and 
 a pair of lower brackets spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, mounted to the pair of columns below the bent portions, and supporting arms supporting the pair of front driving wheels; 
 
 portions of the front frame located between the upper brackets are the first portion and the second portion spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction; and 
 the vehicle body vibration control damper is arranged to extend between the portions of the front frame located between the upper brackets. 
 
     
     
       7. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body frame; 
 a power unit supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a steering system supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a pair of driving wheels spaced apart from each other in a vehicle width direction; 
 a transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force generated by the power unit to the pair of driving wheels and to cause the pair of driving wheels to always rotate at a same rotation speed; and 
 a vehicle body vibration control damper that is arranged to extend between a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from each other, each of the first portion and the second portion being located on the vehicle body frame or a member fixed to the vehicle body frame, and configured to generate a damping force relative to vibration that changes a distance between the first portion and the second portion; wherein 
 the vehicle body frame includes:
 a pair of columns spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, each of the pair of columns extending in a vehicle front-back direction and including a bent portion and a portion extending downward; 
 a front frame extending in the vehicle width direction and connected to the pair of columns behind the bent portions, the front frame including a pair of side portions spaced apart in the vehicle width direction and extending rearward; 
 a cross bar extending in the vehicle width direction and connected to rear ends of the pair of columns and rear ends of the pair of side portions of the front frame; 
 a pair of upper brackets spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, mounted to the front frame, and supporting suspensions supporting a pair of front driving wheels; 
 a pair of lower brackets spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, mounted to the pair of columns below the bent portions, and supporting arms supporting the pair of front driving wheels; and 
 a bracket mounted to the cross bar and supporting a steering column; 
 
 portions of the cross bar located outward in the vehicle width direction than the rear ends of the pair of columns and inward in the vehicle width direction than the rear ends of the pair of side portions of the front frame are the first portion and the second portion spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction; and 
 the vehicle body vibration control damper is arranged to extend between the portions of the cross bar located outward in the vehicle width direction than the rear ends of the pair of columns and inward in the vehicle width direction than the rear ends of the pair of side portions of the front frame. 
 
     
     
       8. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body frame; 
 a power unit supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a steering system supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a pair of driving wheels spaced apart from each other in a vehicle width direction; 
 a transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force generated by the power unit to the pair of driving wheels and to cause the pair of driving wheels to always rotate at a same rotation speed; and 
 a vehicle body vibration control damper that is arranged to extend between a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from each other, each of the first portion and the second portion being located on the vehicle body frame or a member fixed to the vehicle body frame, and configured to generate a damping force relative to vibration that changes a distance between the first portion and the second portion; wherein 
 the vehicle body frame includes:
 a pair of upper rails spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction and extending in a vehicle front-back direction; 
 a pair of lower rails spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction and extending in the vehicle front-back direction below the pair of upper rails; 
 a pair of columns spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, disposed between the pair of upper rails and the pair of lower rails, and extending in a vertical or substantially vertical direction; 
 a pair of brackets spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, mounted to the pair of columns, and supporting arms supporting a pair of rear driving wheels; and 
 a cross frame extending in the vehicle width direction, disposed behind a seat, and connected to front ends of the pair of upper rails; 
 
 portions of the cross frame located between the front ends of the pair of upper rails are the first portion and the second portion spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction; and 
 the vehicle body vibration control damper is arranged to extend between the portions of the cross frame located between the front ends of the pair of upper rails. 
 
     
     
       9. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body frame; 
 a power unit supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a steering system supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a pair of driving wheels spaced apart from each other in a vehicle width direction; 
 a transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force generated by the power unit to the pair of driving wheels and to cause the pair of driving wheels to always rotate at a same rotation speed; and 
 a vehicle body vibration control damper that is arranged to extend between a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from each other, each of the first portion and the second portion being located on the vehicle body frame or a member fixed to the vehicle body frame, and configured to generate a damping force relative to vibration that changes a distance between the first portion and the second portion; wherein 
 the vehicle body frame includes:
 a pair of upper rails spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction and extending in a vehicle front-back direction; 
 a pair of lower rails spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction and extending in the vehicle front-back direction below the pair of upper rails; 
 a pair of columns spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, disposed between the pair of upper rails and the pair of lower rails, and extending in a vertical or substantially vertical direction; 
 a cross bar extending in the vehicle width direction and arranged between the pair of upper rails; and 
 a pair of brackets spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, mounted to the cross bar, and supporting suspensions supporting a pair of rear driving wheels; 
 
 portions of the cross bar are the first portion and the second portion spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction; and 
 the vehicle body vibration control damper is arranged to extend between the portions of the cross bar. 
 
     
     
       10. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body frame; 
 a power unit supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a steering system supported by the vehicle body frame; 
 a pair of driving wheels spaced apart from each other in a vehicle width direction; 
 a transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force generated by the power unit to the pair of driving wheels and to cause the pair of driving wheels to always rotate at a same rotation speed; and 
 a vehicle body vibration control damper that is arranged to extend between a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from each other, each of the first portion and the second portion being located on the vehicle body frame or a member fixed to the vehicle body frame, and configured to generate a damping force relative to vibration that changes a distance between the first portion and the second portion; wherein 
 the vehicle body frame includes:
 a pair of upper rails spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction and extending in a vehicle front-back direction; 
 a pair of lower rails spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction and extending in the vehicle front-back direction below the pair of upper rails; 
 a pair of columns spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, disposed between the pair of upper rails and the pair of lower rails, and extending in a vertical or substantially vertical direction; and 
 a pair of brackets spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, mounted to the pair of columns, and supporting arms supporting a pair of rear driving wheels; 
 
 the pair of columns are the first portion and the second portion spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction; and 
 the vehicle body vibration control damper is arranged to extend between the pair of columns.